Wednesday, April 16, 2008

UPDATE: Here's today's post from Reardon, with news that Dane Porlas and Josh Aufai are out with injury, but Blaze Soares was back to practice.

UPDATE 2: Not a practice update, but here's a draft analysis (w/video) of Colt Brennan from the Dallas Morning News Cowboys blog.

UPDATE 3: Two vids from Leila Wai. This one is about depth chart movement in the secondary, as Mana Silva and Calvin Roberts practiced with the first team today. Interviews with them as well as Rich Miano and Ryan Mouton. And speaking of Mouton, he and Keao Monteilh have a competition going. Watch the video and vote for who has the better hair.

The depth charts at this time are not set in lava. The coaches are making their best efforts to evaluate as many players as they can. For example, Erik Pedersen and Pookela Ahmad were the back-up outside linebackers on Saturday. Today, Tyson Kafentzis and R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane were the back-ups. Alasi Toilolo and Elliott Purcell were the back-up defensive ends on Saturday. Today, C.J. Allen Jones and Victor Clore were the back-ups.

UPDATE 4: Here's tonight's news compilation from CC. News about Greg Salas, Ryan Grice-Mullins, Keao Monteilh, along with coaches Nick Rolovich and Brian Smith. Chancellor Hinshaw talks to the Leaheys about where the BCS money may go, and where the money June Jones owes UH is.

Since he's the only kicker on the team right now, the fourth-year starter will handle field goals and extra points for both teams. (No kickoffs are planned). And since starting punter Tim Grasso is not at UH this semester, Kelly will do that job, too, coach Greg McMackin said yesterday.

"He'll be playing for both teams," McMackin said. "It'll be fun and he'll like it. He likes action."

Kelly said he's up for it.

"I'm just excited I get something to do," he said. "This is my third spring, and I've yet to do anything."

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Ferd Lewis writes about the $4.3 million in BCS money UH will receive sometime this summer. It'll total about $2.2 million after expenses.

The record payout to a non-Bowl Championship Series-signatory school is expected to go primarily to reducing the athletic department's mounting red ink. UH athletic director Jim Donovan, who inherited a balance sheet with a $4.4 million accumulated net deficit when he took over last month, said he hopes to use $1.5 million to balance the budget for the current fiscal year.

Scott Wright: Is there one or two teams in particular that you’ve noticed paying more attention to you?

Colt Brennan: To be honest I’ve kind of gotten the same interest from a handful of different teams. I really haven’t been able to narrow it down. Just in talking to my agents, who last year represented Trent Edwards, the Buffalo Bills showed no interest in him whatsoever before the draft yet picked him in the third round. It’s tough because you talk to a lot of teams but sometimes those teams that are talking to you are just trying to get more information on why not to draft you and some of the teams that really don’t talk to you that much are just trying not to show that they do want you. Right now it’s a tough thing and you just have to wait until Draft Day to find out.

Strengths: Stands only 5-10 but has good size and bulk at 194 pounds. Is a smooth athlete with good hands who catches everything thrown his way. Runs good routes and is agile. Can change direction and runs well after the catch. Is an experienced receiver with good instincts and awareness. A very productive player in college who also brings some toughness to the table. Has some potential as a kick returner.

Thus began in 1990 Jason Elam's long trip home. Signed by Hawaii out of Brookwood High School — the team's offensive coordinator was a former Georgia Southern assistant named Paul Johnson who recruited him — Elam has finally come full circle. An eventual All-American at Hawaii, then one of the finest kickers in the NFL with Denver, he has come back to town with the Falcons, the team of his youth, 20 years after graduating from high school.